BBC press office to sheathe its Steel

It is truly the end of an era at the BBC. After more years than he would care us to mention as the BBC corporate press office's firefighter-in-chief, Donald Steel is stepping down. But fear not, he is not leaving the BBC – that would be like the ravens leaving the Tower of London – he is moving upstairs to become the corporation's chief communications adviser, reporting to the director of communications, Ed Williams. "Donald will provide strategic counsel and support on communication issues, including advising on the BBC's response during times of reputational crisis," says a press release. The BBC? In a reputational crisis? The very thought. Steel began his career in commercial radio in Dundee after 10 years in the National Health Service. Other jobs included working as a publicist on The Archers and going on secondment in Jerusalem to work on the Eurovision Song Contest with the Israeli Broadcasting Authority. Steel has also been appointed the first associate fellow of the BBC Academy and will help the corporation high-ups with their media training – surely a full-time job all by itself.